Rising star and Arizona native Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. held a media workout in his hometown of Casa Grande, Arizona on Thursday as he nears his matchup against unbeaten mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov that serves as the co-main event streaming live on DAZN and presented by Premier Boxing Champions on Saturday, September 19 from Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California.
The September 19 event will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and see Mexican superstar and Interim WBC Super Lightweight Champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz take on once-beaten Puerto Rican contender Nestor Bravo in the main event.
Tickets for the live event are available through AXS.com. The event is promoted by TGB Promotions.
The media workout also featured an appearance from Casa Grande Mayor Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons who recently presented Ramos with the Key to the City in March. Ramos also recently received the Hometown Legacy Award in recognition of his dedication to shaping the character and future of the city.
His father and trainer, Jesus Ramos, Sr., was also recognized for his significant contributions to Casa Grande recently as Congressman Juan Ciscomani presented him with the American Dream Inspirational Educator Supporter award earlier this month.
The Ramos family opened the Ramos Boxing Academy in 2022 and in an effort to help revitalize the downtown area, the family also took over the Paramount Theatre across the street from their gym last year. The Ramos family have hosted a wide array of community events in the historic venue and have a Casa Grande’s Got Talent showcase coming up later this month.
Here is what the Ramos family and the Casa Grande Mayor had to say Thursday from Ramos Boxing Academy:
JESUS RAMOS JR.
“The 160-pound division is open for the taking. It’s my time!
“I’m very excited to be on this Pitbull card in San Diego, and right by Tijuana. That’s where my career started and I have a lot of fans there.
“It’s a blessing to have a space like the Ramos Boxing Academy where I can encourage the young kids who are here training and give them advice. A lot of fighters leave their hometowns to focus, but that’s never been a problem for me. My family helps me stay focused. Casa Grande is a small town, so there’s no distractions.
“We know we can’t take Nursultanov lightly. He’s coming in to prove a point, but we’re going to be ready for what he brings. I expect the best version of him and that helps motivate me every day.
“Once you become champion, there’s no more pressure. These fights are for my legacy. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone but myself.
“My maturity is different. We’re on a different level right now. These days in the gym aren’t draining, because we know from experience what needs to be done. It’s because we’ve reached that different level.
“There’s no trainer like my dad. We have the right chemistry and he always knows how to push my buttons. I’m grateful to have him as a coach and there’s no one else I’d want to share this journey with.
“Yoenli Hernandez is a good fighter, but he’s a little green. I’ll fight him any time, don’t get me wrong. I just think he needs a little time to improve and get better.
“It was a little longer layoff than we expected, but I think it was necessary. There were some injuries that I had to let recover. I feel like this fight is coming at the right time. I’m feeling great and I’m excited to be back.”
JESUS RAMOS SR., Jesus’ Father & Trainer
“Training is going perfectly. We’re healthy and Jesus is looking sharp and continuing to hone his skills every day. This is a big fight and we’re very thankful for the community coming out today.
“We have to continue learning and improve things in our game. We know we’re on the biggest stage and facing better and better fighters. We’re always going to train hard and we’re motivated.”
CASA GRANDE MAYOR LISA NAVARRO FITZGIBBONS
“The Ramos family are a part of every aspect of this community. They raised their kids here and have been active here for many years. Jesus is the first person to ever receive the key to the city, because it’s so important for us to have a young leader who’s successful in his field, but also a true role model. We’re very proud of him and he’ll always be our champion.
“It’s good for our young people to see that they can do anything with hard work and dedication. Jesus shows that it’s not an easy journey, but it’s all about commitment and hard work and passion.
“Jesus came back from his success and invested in his city. He loves his city and we love him. The gym and the theater show his true commitment to a community that’s been there for him all these years.”
